← Back to Blog

How Our Community Earned The Best CCRC Award by US News & World Report

4 seniors getting together to have ice cream

There are a lot of senior living choices out there, and it can be hard to know where to even start in your selection process. That’s why many seniors, and their families, look at resident reviews and surveys along with other independent resources. 

Recently, U.S. News & World Report analyzed data from nearly 450,000 resident and family survey responses at more than 3,800 senior living communities nationwide, including 1,200 independent living communities. Of those surveyed only 424 – including Freedom Plaza – were named a best Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).  

What Is a U.S. News Best Senior Living Community?

In 2025, U.S. News asked residents and family members about their satisfaction with community safety, caregiving, activities, management, staff, food, value and other aspects of community life on a scale of 1 to 5. 

The Best Senior Living ratings were given in recognition of communities that received the highest overall scores in the care level or levels they offer. Only communities with the highest scores in each category were then recognized as “Best” communities. 

What Are Best Senior Living Badges?

If a senior living community earned a “Best” rating in one of the four categories (Best CCRC, Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care) a U.S. News-trademarked award badge appears on its usnews.com profile page. The award badge indicates the “Best” category; a community may earn an award badge in more than one category. Communities that earned a badge may purchase plaques and signage featuring the badge and be granted permission to display the badge on websites and in other media. 

More Recognition for Freedom Plaza

Our impressive award for Best CCRC joins our other recent awards:  

  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 5-Star rating: Of the 63 communities in our area eligible to receive a star rating, only 12 received a CMS 5-Star rating. We’re very proud to say that skilled nursing at Freedom Plaza was one of the communities that received the highest possible rating, providing reassurance to area families and their loved ones. 
  • Recognition for our management company: Life Care Services, the company that manages our senior living community and dozens of other around the country, has once again been recognized as the leader in resident satisfaction among Independent Senior Living Communities in the 2024 J.D. Power Senior Living Satisfaction Study.  
  • Newsweek: We were awarded America’s Best Nursing Homes in 2025 which lists the nation’s leading nursing homes based on Performance Data Score, Reputation Score, Accreditation Score and Resident Satisfaction Score.  
  • U.S. News: We have a history of being counted among the best with U.S. News. They recently recognized us as the Best Assisted Living and Best Memory Care for 2024-2025. 

Learn More About Our Award-Winning Continuum of Care

Contact us today to learn why Freedom Plaza is your best choice in Sun City Center. From our hospitality promise and signature program – Extraordinary Impressions – we work hard to cultivate a culture of gracious hospitality and service.